Warning!!! This story is not for the faint of heart. Rated M for violence, major character death, extreme gore, mental breakdowns, abuse, slavery, and brainwashing. Vivid descriptions of torture and forced cannablism will also be present. You have been warned.
Without furthur ado, onto the story!
He was sick of it. All the blue, it was just too much. The salty sprays, white horses, and the endless ocean was making Ace more and more pissed by the second. His eyes burned, body ached, stomach roared, and all he could do was sit and wait for something interesting to happen. It had been roughly a day and a half since Ace embarked on his journey, and so far, it was far from the fantastical tales Sabo had told him about. The boy had limited options on what he could do. He could sit. He could sleep. Or he could eat. All of which he had used up on the first day.
Ace slept way too much, making him unable to sleep any longer, or he would end up even more tired and agitated. After that, he sat and stared at the ocean, birds, and surrounding scenery for what felt like hours. He then made a little contest to see how long he could hold his eyes open while saltwater splashed in them. Now his eyes hurt, and he was even more lonely than before. Knowing that there was no one there to compete against, no one to tease, no one to talk to. He would always be the victor, yet had no one to share it with.
Being lonley sucked. Ace got why Luffy hated it so much. When he was little, he had the bandits, even though they weren't the best company. And after that, he had Sabo for a little while, before they both met Luffy. This was the first time the boy was truly, and utterly, alone. Ace didn't like it one bit.
Food. At least he had food. Food was good, Food was always there for him when he was hungry, stressed, or anywhere in between. It was always there when he needed a companion. Food was indifferent, which meant Food never judged Ace, and Ace in turn, never judged food. This ultimately led to the raven scarfing down all the rations that were supposed to last him about two weeks. He didn't take any meat, but did have a plethora of delectable fruits at his disposal.
From apples, and bananas, to oranges, and cherries. The boy ate almost every last piece of fruit in the barrel he brang. There was one left which caught his eye, however. It was at the very bottom of the worn barrel, and the most intriguing of the bunch. The fruit was a dazzling orange, with tinges of red and yellow swirling around in it as well. There were many small pieces which made up the fruit, and they looked like small flames sprouting up from a baby fire. Small designs were engraved onto it, causing the colours and shapes to look like they were moving, bending, and burning.
Of course, Ace didn't think much about the uncanny appearance of the fruit. Food was food, and Ace didn't judge. Without another thought, the boy plopped the peculiar item into his mouth, and ate it. Wet ash, smoke, and soot laced his mouth, though the texture of juicy fruit stayed indifferent. Ace, out of disgust and surprise, almost spat out the fruit, but swallowed it since he didn't want to waste the last bit of rations he had left. The gritty taste lingered in his mouth longer than he would've liked, making the child urge and wretch, but never bring up any bile.
"Must've been a bad one," the boy concluded, seeing no other reason for the fruit to taste so foul. After that, Ace didn't have anything left to do. He was left to stew in his own thoughts, most of them leading back to Luffy in the end. It was hard not to think about his little brother, especially since his blood-soaked hat was staring at him from across the dingy. The vibrant yellow sullied with dirt, mud, and crimson liquid. He wondered how his little brother was doing, if the youngest was mad at him, or if he was even in the East Blue anymore.
Ace set sail on a boat with no sails. It was practically a bit of wood bobbing along the calm waves, with no sense of direction, or way to go faster. No matter the odds, deep down, the raven knew his brother's ship was long gone. Though his stubbornness always prevailed, and now the boy was just sitting and scowling at the water, giving it one of the most hate-filled looks he could muster. As though it was the water's fault for everything that had transpired.
Not long after Ace hit rock bottom of his morbid thoughts, the currents started to pick up, tossing around the small dingy like a small, meaningless toy. A giant hole opened up right beside Ace's boat. The mouth of the whirlpool sucked in anything and everything it could pull in with its iron grip. It's claws began to rip apart the crudely-made oak, swallowing the pieces which were torn apart with ravenous hunger.
It all happened too fast. The current was too strong, and pulled the small raft in with ease, already ripping the poor thing to shreds before it was even fully submerged. Ace knew he had to do something, or else his adventure would end before it truly even began. He couldn't let his brother down. He had made a promise. One he intended to keep.
Thinking on his feet, the boy pried open the lid to his now empty food storage, scrambled inside, and slammed the lid closed with unnecessary force. Adrenaline shrieked and ran throughout his veins, sending his burning nerves ablaze with power and strength. Water burst through the cracks in the old wood when the barrel was taken under, spinning around relentlessly, until Ace thought he might've been sick. His small frame was bashed around and around as the barrel went haywire in the force of the whirlpool. The leaks in the barrel were letting sea seep in, slowly filling up the last safe place Ace had on the open ocean.
A strange feeling overcame the ten year-old, it was as though someone was whispering into his ear. Telling him to just close his eyes. Even though it was hard to breathe, even though he felt like he was on a nauseating carnival ride, even though the high probability of death was looming over the boy's head, he was tired. His limbs felt heavy, his eyes were drooping, and all that was on his mind was how nice it would be if he could take a quick nap.
It wasn't like the freckled-child's narcolepsy, no. That was completely against his will, and usually at the most inconvenient of times; when he was eating. But this was vastly different, the sleep was calling to him. Lulling him into a sense of false security he really shouldn't be feeling now of all times. Yet it was hard to say no to the coaxing of the soft voice in his head. Maybe for just a minute…
His head was violently slammed into the side of the barrel before he could choose.
••
Everything was too bright when he woke up. Salt chapped Ace's lips, making them crack and bleed from lack of moisture. The sun was glaring into his eyelids, making him able to spot each and every tiny, intricate, vein network burrowed into the thin layer of skin. It made everything an unsettling red, reminding the boy of all the soreness, and stinging scattered across his battered form. Sticks and splinters rubbed the top of Ace's head, making his scalp sore, and irritated. But he was still too out of it to stop the relentless itching.
Another few minutes passed, and Ace let the aroma of the sea fill his damaged lungs. Nothing reeked of death, miasma, or lingering ash, which surprised Ace when he finally noticed. Sharp pain shot up the child's spine, and that's when he felt the rough, grainy texture underneath his body.
Damp, crisp cloths rubbed against his already sensitive skin, making the flesh an unflattering red in noticeable areas. Sand was everywhere. Causing small grains to rub themselves into open wounds, along with the boy's ears, eyes, and nostrils. Broken wood wedged itself into Ace's back, arms, and sides, with large splinters lodged into the first few layers of bloody skin.
It was ten times brighter when Ace finally pried his eyes open. Blinding him as soon as the onyx orbs were exposed to the brilliant rays. His eyes adjusted after a few minutes of continuous rubbing, and blinking away stray tears. Then Ace could finally see the scenery surrounding him.
He was on a rocky beach, lying inside a busted barrel, with debris still floating ashore. Not all of the wreckage was from his crude dingy or meager barrel, since rations, clothes, accessories and various other supplies were washed up as well.
The sun was creeping just past the apex of its repetitive journey across the sky. Greenery and forests were just at the edge of Ace's vision, with a small cliff blocking most of the ten year-old's view. No one else seemed to be where Ace was, though he only had a grasp on a very small, secluded beach.
Gingerly, the freckled raven got up, wincing as he did so. Pieces of decaying oak and strips of busted metal fell from his body, leaving behind open wounds and pus-filled cuts. Dark bruises were forming all over the boy's pale figure, with some questionable colours tagging along with the others. Altogether, Ace looked like a zombie fresh from the grave. At least no one was around to grab their pitchforks and chase him away.
Ace, being the idiot with a death wish that he was, pulled out all the wood planks that were still lodged into his body. Not even doing anything to stop the fresh blood from seeping out. He stumbled slightly, holes forming in his bleary vision, as a pang of fear almost sent him to his knees. Where was the hat? Where was Luffy's hat?! He'd been so caught up with the whirlpool he didn't even think about his little brother's most prized possession!
With a frantic look on his face, and fear etched into every bone in his trembling body, Ace scoured the entire beach he was washed up on. Checking under bits of debris, sand, and even looking in the water before he felt strangely tired, and the eerie voice wormed its way into his ears. Even after all the effort, all the struggle, he came up with nothing. Only a few pieces of yellow straw, which had the raven fearing for the worst. A pit of anxiety and foreboding clumped together inside his chest, making it a losing battle for a single breath.
Everything over the past week finally caught up to him, slamming into him with the force of a steamroller. It crushed his will to fight, slammed down on his pride, obliterated his hopes and dreams until there was nothing but ash. He fell to the ground, tears forming in his eyes, yet never trailing down his sallow cheeks. Ace clawed his hands into the dirt, shrieking profanities at the top of his lungs. On his knees Ace's hands moved behind his back, and let his forehead touch the sand.
He let everyone down. Sabo was dead. Luffy was who knows where. And what was he doing? He did nothing to stop the tragedy, he helped start the fire, he never went to help Sabo, he told himself that Luffy would be just fine even though hours had passed in silence. A demon like him should have never had them in the first place. A demon like him should've been killed or taken, not them. A demon like him shouldn't be able to live. Yet here he was, still alive and kicking, but at the cost of everyone around him. What followed him was death, destruction, and mayhem. Roger shouldn't have ever had a son, he shouldn't have cursed the world with his child.
Why did he even exist?
The sun was retreating into the horizon when Ace finally willed himself to get up. He was paler than before, with a sheen of sweat covering his body, and rosy, tear-stained cheeks. His breathing was ragged and uneven, and his eyes were bloodshot, with an air of murder inside them. The hat was still missing, so all Ace could think of doing was going and finding it. If he couldn't do that, how would he be able to save Luffy?
Darkness swallowed the forest, making the foliage look like bloodthirsty beasts, and the looming trees evil monsters. No birds twittered, or chirped, only the wind blowing through hollow wood, creating eerie sounds and unsettling whispers. The tall trees groaned, bending to the will of the gusts and gales in the night. Leaves fluttered down from their homes, gliding to the ground without a single sound.
Ace trudged through the underbrush, his usually high alert dropped, leaving him alone and defenseless. He was too tired and emotionally exhausted to care at the moment, his mind wandering back to his two little brothers. The boy kept thinking about the straw hat, how it looked on his brother's back, the way he smiled when he looked at it. He remembered how it looked that day, covered in blood, his brother's blood. That hat kept staring at him with such intensity, he wasn't able to look it in the eyes, even if it had none. On the boat, he couldn't bear to so much as glance at it, all the good and bad memories melding into a big ball of guilt. Forming into chains that tied him down, weights that crushed him under all the pressure. All he could do was endure it.
When the forest started thinning out, Ace barely even noticed. He was too caught up in his own head to do anything but keep marching. His body was on autopilot, so when a small village came into view, he didn't even look up from the ground until he smacked his face into a wall.
The pain was nullified by all the other injuries, only making Ace falter slightly, and peek out from the depths of his mind. It took him a moment to realize he wasn't in the forest anymore, but rather, a quaint little village.
He fell victim to narcolepsy not long after that.
Food. Food was good. Food didn't judge. Food gave him energy and Food never asked questions. Food was always there when he was hungry, angry, or bored. Food was fun to catch, fun to cook, and especially fun to eat. So when Ace smelt food wafting into his nose, his head shot right up, ignorant to his pain. Rice balls, spices, vegetables, fruits, and best of all, meat. Juicy, delectable, seasoned and roasted, a mouth-watering dish which Ace needed to get his hands on.
He got out of bed, and wandered out of his room, making his way downstairs. The raven wasn't trying to be stealthy, more focused on the ever-growing meat smell that sent pangs of hunger down to his stomach. A small girl with brown hair and big eyes was preparing rice balls on a counter at the foot of the stairs. The child was wearing a purple dress that went down to her ankles, where small strap-on brown shoes were peeking out from the white frills at the end of the fabric. Her hair was pulled into two short braids, and had glitter embedded into the brown strands. She didn't look up, too engrossed in her work, her tongue sticking out as she added the finishing touches to her creation.
The brunette took a step back, admiring her dish before she noticed the freckled boy standing on one of the steps above her. "You're awake! That's good, I was getting worried." She let out a breath of relief, a happier expression coming over her face.
The raven gave her a perplexed look, his eyebrows scrunching together. That's when he realized. He didn't have a room, or a bed. He lived in a treehouse with his brothers! Who… Ace cut himself off there, not wanting to know where that train of thought ended. But now he was very confused. Didn't he wash up on a beach? He vaguely remembered trekking through the woods before stumbling upon a village. That's when…
Sleep attack.
Of course, what a perfect time to fall asleep! In the middle of an unknown village on an unknown island while heavily injured. These people could be a part of some obscure cult, be super dangerous, or even know he was Roger's son! Ace's face flushed a light pink from all the thinking he was doing, all the possibilities screaming in his head, telling him it was dangerous, that he shouldn't be there. He should be searching for his brother's hat, and his brother.
Before he could run out of the building he was currently in, and start attacking unknown civilians, the little girl piped up again. "My name is Ririka, what's your name?" She asked, her dark brown eyes wide with anticipation.
Ace shifted under her gaze, slightly uncomfortable now that he knew wasn't alone on this island. He didn't know if he could trust this girl or not, but she just seemed genuinely curious, no ill will or ulterior motives as far as the raven could see. "Ace…" he mumbled out with a bit more bite than he intended.
The girl, Ace now knew was Ririka, smiled. It was a bright, happy smile, with no malice or hate inside. Sure, that didn't mean he could trust her, but it was a start. "Nice to meet you, Ace! There aren't many other kids in this town, so it gets really lonely… but you seem like a nice person, so why don't we be friends?" The brunette looked up at Ace, still smiling, and he was caught off guard by her fast talking and joyful personality.
She wanted to be his friend? They'd known each other for about three seconds, and this girl already wanted to be friends with him? But she knew nothing about him! He's the Devil's son, no one wants to be near an embodiment of pure evil, do they? He was a good for nothing, soulless entity, which caused others pain and-
Ace was cut off by the girl grabbing his hand, and dragging him down the rest of the stairs, rice balls in hand. "Come on! There's another kid here who needs our help!" Ririka ran out the door, with a confused Ace stumbling behind.
The raven's mind immediately went to Luffy. Was he here?! How did this girl know he needed help?! Where was he?! Ace couldn't ask himself any other questions when he abruptly came to a stop, crashing into Ririka.
They both fell into the dirt, but luckily, the rice balls were unharmed. The freckled raven groaned, and slowly got to his feet, noticing that his body was covered head to toe in bandages in the process. He couldn't help but be surprised. Did that girl do this? Why would she help him? Ririka leapt up, bouncing on her toes as she neared a wooden fence, her eyes darting from the village to the fence over and over.
"What is it?" Ace questioned, noting the anxious expression etched onto her once exuberant features. She flicked her eyes between Ace, and the fence, unsure if she should reply.
"I-It's… It's a Marine Base." The girl looked beyond nervous, but let in a deep breath, steadying her restless feet. Without warning, Ririka snatched Ace's hand once again, and ducked underneath the fence.
Beyond the fence was parched dirt, with not even an ounce of life creeping through the soil and dried up remains. Clouds of dust were kicked up into the air as the two kids bolted across the yard, to what looked like a pole.
The pole in question was a regular old metal pole. Bits of paint were chipped off, revealing a plain gray metal, and rust was spreading on the object like an infectious disease. It was stuck in the ground in the middle of the courtyard, nothing special about it. What really caught Ace's eye, wasn't the pole, but what was tied to it.
Strung up like a doll, was a small boy with vibrant, moss-like hair. Clad in black, he had a white belt, and two red swords emblazoned onto the left side of his outfit. Blood, dry and fresh, clung to the child, making it hard to spot any open wounds on him. He looked pale, with sunken eyes and hollow cheeks. His exposed skin was hard to see, with most of it being covered in either crimson blood, dirt, or dark bruises. Over all, the boy looked no older than Ace, and in the same condition he was in not too long ago.
Ririka let go of Ace's hand, and with jumpy movements, went over to the beaten child in front of her. "Hi Zoro, I-I brought you something to eat! The-they're rice balls, I made them myself." She smiled, a twitchy, uncertain smile, but a smile nonetheless.
The boy Ace now knew as Zoro, looked up from the ground, and showed them both the scowl on his face. "I told you…" he started, his voice hoarse, with an edge which made Ririka flinch. "I don't need pity! So scram! Before I kick your ass!" Blood sprayed from his mouth as he spoke, his lungs rattling with every breath, but fierce determination was eminent on his beaten face.
"B-But." The brunette stammered, unwrapping the two rice balls and showing them to Zoro. "You must be hungry, at least try one." She implored, tears pricking her eyes.
Ace just stood there, watching. Not really sure what to do. One minute, he was in a boat, then a forest, and now he's a bandage-mummy in a courtyard, watching a girl try to shove rice balls into a half-dead kid's mouth. What was he even watching?
"Get the fuck out of here! Before-" but Zoro didn't get to finish as stuck-up laughter filled the courtyard.
"Now now. We don't like bullies, do we? Roronoa Zoro." The voice guffawed, a sense of entitlement embedded into his tone. Ace wanted to wretch at the sound. Stuck-up nobels filling his head, their faces scrunched up in disgust, shying away from even the smallest speck of dirt. If there were nobles here, Ace made no promises when it came to 'accidental' homicide.
Marines came marching through the side gate, guns resting on their shoulders, backs as stiff as boards, with blank faces and distant eyes. Ace had to keep from bursting into a fit of laughter. How could Garp ever think that he, Luffy, and Sabo would even be able to stand still and silent for so long?
A small, blonde boy strode into the yard, a look on his face which screamed 'please punch me.' He was clad in a violet suit, with six gold buttons on the torso. Pink was laced on the inside of the suit, and the sleeves were rolled up just enough that he was able to use his hands. His platinum hair was doused with several cans of hairspray, making it have an unnatural, plasticy sheen. It was styled into a horrendous bowlcut, which drew eyes directly to his elongated buttchin. His nose was upturned, looking down on everything before him, just like the Nobles on Dawn Island.
"Oooh, are those rice balls? Yummy!" He snatched a rice ball from Ririka before she could even protest, taking a generous bite and making sure everyone could hear his chewing. The smug look on his face quickly disappeared, his skin turning an unnatural red, steam pouring from his ears. "Gah! These are revolting! You're supposed to salt! Not wassabi, SALT!" The boy shrieked, spitting out the rice ball and hastily scraping at his swollen tongue.
"I thought they would taste better spicy… " tears trailed down the girl's cheeks, trembling in front of the enraged blonde. He snatched the other rice ball from Ririka, knocking it into the dirt.
The boy began to senselessly stomp on the rice ball, over and over, grinding it into the mud. "Stupid! Disgusting! Wassabi!" He kept yelling and stomping until the food was inedible and Ririka was on her knees, sobbing on the ground.
"I worked so hard… " she pawed at her face with the heel of her hands, but all it did was spread the tears all over her face.
"You know the rules." The brat stopped, looking over to Ririka with a malicious glint in his eyes. He pulled out a piece of paper from his jacket, and began to read it out loud. "Anyone who helps a criminal is put to death. Signed Axe-Hand Morgan." Why there was a rule like that here, Ace didn't know. But he did know that it was a stupid rule, and gave him all the more reason for that 'accidental' homocide.
"My daddy made all the rules, so I know that this rule applies to anyone. Even stupid little brats like you." He sneered, a heartless grin plastered onto his face. "Unless…" he began, his smile widening, eyes lighting up. "You finally become my friends, the both of you."
Ririka's face contorted into one of horror, and Zoro wasn't even paying attention, drool dribbling down his chin as he eyed the mud balls on the ground. Ace wanted to face palm, only now realizing that these were indeed children, not evil adults. He was so used to beating the living daylights out of human bags of garbage, thieves, pirates, and people who say he shouldn't have been born, that he forgot some kids are… Well, kids.
"That's pathetic," The raven scoffed, looking the brat up and down. He truly was a daddy's boy, a pampered child, taught warped world views and clung to every word. These were the kids Sabo had to deal with every day. How his brother didn't kill anyone, Ace had no clue.
The boy in question, looked at Ace with a stunned expression, mouth agape and eyes bulging out of his skull. "What did you just say?! Uncultured swine?" He shrieked yet again, stamping his foot, demanding an answer from the new face.
Ace glowered, giving the spoiled sod a look which promised en eternity in hell. "I said," he spat, letting blood seep past his lips. "You're pathetic. Using egg section as bribery to get friends."
Everything was silent for a moment too long, the two uninjured kids staring at Ace as though he had three heads. "What?" He asked, adding to the tension. No one answered for a moment, until Ririka tapped his shoulder.
"Um, I think you mean execution, not egg section… one of them means to be put to death, and other other means, well, the section of a store where you would find the eggs." The brunette explained, causing Ace's face to turn beat red in the process
"Whatever," he mumbled out, shifting in place.
Laughter echoed in the courtyard again, the type of laughter which infuriates most people, the type of laughter when you know you're being laughed at. "And you call me pathetic? You can't even tell produce and capital punishment apart! Where did you grow up, dirt poor in the middle of the woods? No wonder I've never seen you before. I bet you can't even afford to buy food, let alone the gauze all over your body."
With every word, the fire in Ace's soul grew, from a small bonfire, to a raging inferno. Winds of hate spreading the fury, the loathing, the pent up frustration and grief he'd held in for so long. His fears and anxieties, doubts and second guesses, forming into one large mass inside of him, turning into eternal flames. Ace could feel the fire pumping through his veins, begging to break the surface, to let loose.
With one loud battle cry, Ace clenches his fists, practically feeling the fire roaring inside of him, licking the sides of his arms as he swung his fist, right into the face of the entitled prick before him. Closing his eyes, Ace let the fire consume him, become him.
He thought of Sabo, of Luffy, and their stupid antics. He thought of the good days, and the bad. He thought of the fighting, the nonsensical bickering, and he thought of the battles they won together. He thought of the laughter, smiles, and adventures. He thought of their dreams, their longing for the ocean. He thought of the darkness, the hopelessness, and the scars they all have. He thought of the light they created regardless, and how priceless these memories truly are. How priceless these people truly are. And he thought of how he threw it all away.
I'll get it all back!
Each memory, each emotion, each moment, all becoming a spark, an ember, a match. They light the way, becoming the fire, the inferno, the beauty and destruction. Every flicker, every cinder, so delicate, yet powerful. Whimsical, yet deadly. Ace poured all of the flames out into the world by the might of his fist, might of his will, might of his soul. Until nothing was left.
When Ace finally opened his eyes, he saw nothing. Everything was silent, everything was so deafeningly silent it made Ace's ears ring. The dust had settled, there was no blonde boy in sight, no Marines, no laughter.
Ace collapsed without a sound.
When Ace woke up, he definitely knew where he was. He didn't attack any nice inn-running ladies, or become the human equivalent of a rampaging fireball, he was too sensible to do something so reckless. So, of course, when he was shovelling multiple plates of delectable cooking down his asopagos, he didn't choke on a plate he tried to swallow either, causing another fire in the process. Ace would never do something like that, he's too well-mannered and level-headed to do something so idiotic and stupid.
He's too mature for any of that.
Apparently, when he collapsed from yet another narcolepsy attack, Ririka had the hospitality to take him back to her place, along with Zoro. Her mother, Riririka, cooked up a lovely meal for all three of them while they were sleeping. Since she was clueless to Ace's black hole for a stomach, she kept cooking up more food until the half-starved ten year-old was satisfied. Which hadn't happened yet, even after four piles of food. When he was in the middle of eating, however, Ririka kept firing a frenzy of questions his way.
"I've never seen you in Shells town before, did you move here recently?"
"Why were you so injured when I found you?"
"Where are your parents?"
"What happened in the courtyard?"
All these questions swarmed Ace's mind, taking him off guard. Sure, the questions seemed harmless, but if he answered honestly, and to the best of his ability, there was a high chance that they wouldn't like what they heard, and turn on him. If he gave too vague of answers, they'd either keep asking questions until he was backed into a corner, or they'd get suspicious and turn on him. And if he refused to answer, they'd get angry, and turn on him.
A thin line to walk on, but it's either that, or being a human sacrifice for a cult, or being burned at the stake for witchery, or even slowly tortured and killed just for the fun of it. It shouldn't be too hard. Totally not.
The raven didn't notice how long he was thinking for until he felt his head throbbing. It was similar to the time when he got his face repeatedly bashed into a wall until the stone cracked and crumbled apart. Sabo and Luffy bailed him out, beating the crap out of the thugs in the allies of Edge Town. 'Luffy and Sabo aren't here to bail me out this time… ' the grim reminder set the freckled child on edge, his knuckles turning white, and his body going rigid.
"I…" Ace started, failing miserably at trying to sound relaxed. "I'm looking for someone, and happened to… come upon this island." Though it was technically the truth, it came out choppy and awkward, therefore, suspicious. Sweat formed on Ace's brow, his heart picked up speed, and it became harder and harder to breathe. Ace expected hard scowls, hate-filled eyes, and dark intentions on all of their faces. The once happy demeanor turned deadly, and Ace was getting ready to bolt when-
"Oh, okay!" Ririka giggled, nibbling on one of her new spicy rice balls. Then, she turned to Zoro, who was sitting on the barstool next to her, tearing apart a turkey leg. "Zoro, what about you? Why are you here?"
The moss-haired boy stiffened, and dropped the leg of meat onto a platter, to look Ririka in the eyes. "That's none of your damn business, got it?" His tone was dark and intimidating, even with all the grease smeared into his chubby face. Even Ace was a little taken aback, but continued shoveling food down his gullet as though nothing had happened.
A long stretch of silence ensued, only filled by the sounds of cooking in the kitchen, Ririka's loud nibbling, along with Zoro and Ace's aggressive eating tactics. A small girl with fiery hair came and left in that expanse of time, ordering some peeled grapes and juice while reading the newspaper. The girl left without a word, leaving behind some beli with a blank expression on her face. Something about her made Ace wonder, but he turned back to eating without giving her too much thought.
When someone spoke up again, it was when Zoro had been full for quite a while, and Ace was just getting started. "How much can you eat?" The greenette stared at Ace, jaw hitting the floor.
"I 'unno, I never rea'y 'ink abou' it." The freckled ten year-old spewed food from his mouth, cheeks filled with half-chewed substances, along with bones and bits of plate from what definitely didn't happen earlier.
Zoro still looked bewildered at the sight. He'd been starving on a pole for three weeks, and this… thing, can eat ten times the amount he can! Just what is this freckled monster made out of? And then there was the courtyard. Did this kid really burst into flames, or was that the hunger and thirst playing tricks on his eyes?
Riririka came into the room, a pleasant smile on her face. She went to the counter where Zoro, Ririka, and Ace were all sitting, and used her palms to prop up her head. "So, you three, how are you holding up?" Her smile is warm, and trusting, but Ace didn't buy it for a minute. The kind smile turned into a sickening grin, perfect teeth blindingly spotless. Her once warm eyes were filled with nothing but greed, looking to take, and take until nothing was left. She was holding a box of matches, blood dripping from her hands.
It took a moment for Ace to ground himself, to pull himself back to reality by an ever-shrinking tether. He wondered, for a moment, if one day the tether would be gone, and he'd keep falling into the black abyss with nothing to get him back out.
"We're fine," Zoro answered the brunette, a slight sharpness in his voice. "Once I get a hold of my swords, I'll be gone."
"Same here, as soon as I get a new ship, and find my brother's hat, I'll set sail again." Ace crammed another piece of meat into his mouth, swallowing it whole. "Maybe I'll grab some food too… "
Ririka looked between the two boys she was sitting with, and slumped in her seat. "You're leaving so soon? But you guys are so awesome… "
"Don't take it personally, I just have better things to do than hang around here." The moss head got up from his stool, wobbling slightly. "Tell me, how can I get to the marine base from here." His glare was hard, yet desperate. Bandages covered every inch of his body, much like Ace, and even though he looked much better after having a meal and some rest, three weeks of torture dosen't just disappear over night.
Ririka's mother looked worried, Zoro still wasn't in a good enough state to even stand, let alone break into a marine base. "Why don't you wait a for a little bit, at least until your more serious injuries are-"
"I can't wait any longer! I need to get off this island and find the man I need to beat, once he's gone, that's when I'll rest. Either that, or when I'm six feet under." Zoro barged out of the inn, with a very noticeable limp and no shoes.
Ace admired his determination, but that didn't make it any less stupid. He knew he'd die in the fight, so that was most likely the last time Ace would ever see the kid. But for some reason… The raven felt a need to go after him, to help. Why? He couldn't say, but his legs started moving before he could even think about the consequences. Before he could use Sabo's logic to rationalize the situation, or use Luffy's logic to… do something? He's out the door, chasing after the little swordsman.
"Why the hell are you here?" Zoro looked up at Ace, but favoured the ground after a moment.
"Heck if I know. But I don't really want anyone else to die." The freckled boy looked at the sky, cursing any gods that were listening.
"Anyone else?" The marimo looked back to Ace, but got no answer. He dropped the conversion - if you could even call it that - opting for the sound of gravel crunching underneath their feet.
They both weren't wearing any shoes. Zoro forgot where he put his, and Ace chucked the sandals he got from Makino at a seagull, in an attempt to get his hands on some meat. Their feet were dirt-ridden, covered in cuts, with rocks and debris adding another spike of pain whenever they least expected it. Trails of thick, black blood were left on the road, and the early-rising villagers just stared as the mummy duo walked past. Ace had been on the island for just over four days, and even though he was unconscious for the majority of his stay, he couldn't wait to leave.
The Marine base slowly came into view, looming over the quaint village like a darkness, a fog, which never disappears. It looks new, with a spotless iron gate, and sparkling stone walls. No one was guarding the entrance, and there wasn't a lock on the entrance, so the two boys just strolled right in.
"So… Where did you leave your swords?" The raven was looking at the building, fists clenched so tight they made a sickly creaking sound.
"I didn't leave them anywhere!" Zoro huffed, making frustrated noises. He stomped up to the main doors, pushing them open with enough force to make a loud bang. It echoed inside the base, but no one came to check out what the sound was.
The freckled boy gave Zoro a perplexed look, before chasing after him. "What do you mean? You said your swords are here, so doesn't that mean this is where you left them?" Ace entered the building, the overpowering smell of gunpowder and sweat wafting into his nose. He stood beside the swordsman, and let his eyes wander to the different parts of the base.
The place was pretty plain, with static white walls stretching down numerous hallways. Bland, cool tile was now stained red and brown from the duos' bloody feet. There was a stairway at the end of the room, just as sterilized as the rest of the place. That was where they headed first.
"No, that blonde bastard took 'em." Zoro spoke up after a while, his voice reverberating in the long, empty hallways. Much like the door, yet nobody came to stop them. All they'd seen so far were a few potted plants, and grey mats, along with a few paintings of a marine they could only guess was Ax-Hand Morgan.
"You mean that little shit? You must be pretty weak if that twig could take you out." Ace stopped to drink a bit of water from a small fountain they walked past, making sure to get as much as he could to soothe his burning throat. It had been burning since he woke up. In fact, his whole body felt uncomfortably hot, making his cheeks flush and veins pop. He didn't pay it too much mind, maybe it was just a warm day, and his body wasn't taking it so well. Nothing to worry about.
Colour rushed into the greenette's face, and he yelled out, "It's not like that! At least I have actual willpower!"
"You don't think I have willpower, moss head?"
"I know you don't, stupid firecracker."
"What did you call me?!"
"You heard me, firecracker."
"Marimo!"
"Flame face!"
"Shitty swords-"
"F-Freeze!" A marine interrupted their nonsensical bickering, pointing a gun at them both. The officer was in a group of three, and their hands were trembling, sweat dripping down their faces.
"Please, just leave, we promise we won't hurt you if you go." One of the three spoke out, their voice cracking.
Ace scoffed, and completely ignored the three adults in front of him, Zoro doing the same."I can't believe Garp actually wanted me to be one of these cowards." He muttered, not even realizing how pale the three marines got.
"Did he just day G-Garp?" One of them asked, his face turning blue, legs trembling.
"I-I bet we just imagined it." Another suggested, trying to build a crude wall of denial which came tumbling down in a matter of moments.
"Who's this Garp guy?" Zoro looked over to Ace, both not even sparing a glance to the three armed officers who were now behind them.
The raven shivered, sweat forming on his brow. But his voice stayed bored, and unwavering. "He's my shitty gramps, always acting as a poster boy for the marines. Though he's an idiot if he thinks he can get me in one of those tacky uniforms." A thud sounded behind the boys, but they didn't look back. But if they did, they would see one of the marines out cold, and the other two praying to every God, deity, and higher power they knew.
It didn't take long for the duo to make it up to the higher floors, though they did have a few difficulties with directions. "You're the one who got lost… " The moss ball grumbled, red dusting his cheeks.
"Sure, sure, your swords would definitely be in a utility closet." Before Zoro could come up with a comeback, a familiar, and very pissed, blonde brat came into view.
"You!" The child screeched, stomping down the halls to come face-to-face with Ace. "Whatever trick you pulled earlier won't work now, you're powerless against someone with my status! Don't you know who my father is?!" He poked one of his fingers into Ace's chest, a hard glare on his childish features. The smug and pretentious demeanor was long gone. Along with his eyebrows, and most of his hair.
"Like I care who your father is." Ace growled, shoving the blonde into the wall. "You're just some entitled, pompous fat cat who hides behind his father's name! I hate people like you." Ace felt the world around him start to sway, and grow unbelievably hot. It was hot, way too hot. How could everyone else stand this heat? He felt as though he would burst into flames at any moment. But he kept pressing the small child's throat against the wall, as the smaller boy struggled against his arm.
The child's eyes widened, tears prickling the corners of his blue-grey orbs. Ace smiled, letting the burning fire in his veins loose, not noticing the actual flames licking his arms. "Now, tell us where you're keeping Zoro's sword."
Turns out they weren't too far away from where Zoro's swords were located. The child they now knew as Helmeppo, (even though they didn't ask for his name) kept screaming at the two, mainly Ace. He kept yelling about how Ace was a cold-blooded demon who crawled out of the pits of hell, or that he was a heartless monster who devoured small 'innocent' children like himself. Zoro and Ace just ignored his babbling, and once they got to his room, where he claimed he kept the swords, the raven slammed the blonde's head into the doorframe.
The room was a pale pink colour, with a matching bed and decor. Roses in pots sat on laced shelves, with frilly picture frames capturing sunsets and oceans behind the glass. Heavily scented perfume filled the air with the smell of fresh strawberries and toffee. Flowers were painted onto the walls, along with a vibrant sun and ocean waves. The carpet was also pink, and soft to the touch, but now had tracks of blood, pebbles, and other things the boys had stepped in on their way here.
Zoro spotted his swords in a flash, running over to them and checking for damage. While the greenette was doing that, Ace dropped the unconscious Helmeppo onto the floor with a thump, and looked out one of his tinted windows. He looked at the crucifiction yard, and the village beyond. He could just make out a few trees at the beginning of the forest, but nothing after that. Ace's mind drifted to Luffy, specifically his hat. He still hadn't found his brother's most prized possession. It had to be somewhere on this island, right? If not, Ace didn't have the slightest clue as to where the straw hat may be. And if that was the case…
A faint screaming pulled the freckled boy from his thoughts, something which kept happening on this island. For better or worse, Ace wasn't too sure. The sound was coming from above him, and getting louder by the second. Ace stumbled back, eyes wide, as he saw a marine falling past the window, to a gruesome death below. The young boy closed his eyes when he heard the inevitable crunch, and the yelling was silenced. His face was ghastly white, as he sat there on the floor, not believing his own eyes. 'That couldn't have just happened…'
Yelling sounded from above, loud and filled with murderous intent. "ANYONE WHO DEFIES ME, IS PUNISHED WITH DEATH!" the voice boomed, vibrating in the empty halls, shaking the whole marine base. Ace couldn't help but stay on the ground, completely stunned by what he just saw. 'Marines are supposed to help, aren't they? Isn't that why the geezer wanted us to become one of them?' Ace looked over to Zoro, and he had the same expression on his face. He was hugging his swords, eyes wide, sweat dripping down his face. Though the ten year-old was pretty sure it wasn't sweat on the swordsman's cheeks.
Ace clenched his fists hard enough for his nails to bite into his skin. He gave Zoro a look, one with too many emotions to count. The greenette nodded stiffly, attaching his swords to the hilt on his belt. They walked out of the room wrapped in silence, ascending many staircases and crossing countless hallways. Their footsteps were loud in the hollow halls, sharp and menacing, filled with rage.
Crisp morning air met the children's faces, tousling their wild hair and nibbling at their pink noses. Marines were sitting on the roof, sculpting a giant slab of stone, tears in their eyes as they worked. A giant man with a metal jaw and an axe for a hand was looming over them, a look of frustration on his face.
"Hey." Ace called out, nothing but fury in his tone. Morgan turned around, scowl never wavering.
"What is it, brat?" The Marine marched over to the two children, "You're interrupting the creation of my statue. I should've been appointed Captain much earlier than two weeks ago, so they're already betraying me by being behind! I'm being so very merciful by letting them live, for now." Ace just stood there, completely motionless. Zoro was standing next to him, with both boys having shadows over their eyes.
"What would you say…" the freckled boy started, his tone calm, despite how angry he looked. "If Gold Roger had a son?" He looked up, staring Axe-Hand Morgan dead in the eyes. Morgan and Ace stood there, eyes locked, for no one knew how long, until the captain broke the tension.
Roaring laughter erupted from the corrupted man's lips. It sounded out of place in the stressed atmosphere, but he kept laughing, and laughing, and laughing. Laughing so much that he cried from amusement, clutched his stomach, and slapped his knees. Too much time had passed when he finally stopped, wiped his eyes, and looked at Ace with a twisted smirk. "I'd put lead between the demon's eyes before it even had time to take its first breath. Nothing associated with Roger deserves to live."
Then, multiple things happened at once.
Flames exploded from Ace's body, fire swirling around, becoming an unstoppable inferno consuming everything in its wake.
Marines ran from their posts at the large stone, pushing and shoving each other to be the first ones at the emergency exit. Some fell from the building, thinking of their loved ones as they fell to their demise.
Morgan charged forwards, withstanding the unbearable heat being thrown at him. He held his axe over his head, and swung down to cut Ace in half.
Zoro pulled out his blades, and blocked Morgan's axe. Ignoring the fire searing his skin, and the current injuries he had.
It was as though time froze, and Ace could see everything happening, even if it was all happening in a blink of an eye, even if there was just too much to register at once. Ace could see it all. He could see the sky, a perpetual blue, the roof, cold and soaked in marine blood. He could see Zoro, blocking a fatal blow from the corrupt captain, and the burns he would surely notice later. He could see the fire, burning bright, eating away at anything within its reach, except him. No, they were coming from him.
Then, it all clicked. The fruit, the burning in his body, the feelings, the changes. He ate a devil's fruit. He was a demon. It wasn't an exaggeration, it wasn't an accusation, it wasn't because of his father. He controlled fire, like the flames from that day. He could make sure something like that would never happen again.
He was a demon, and he couldn't say he hated it.
Ace pulled his hand into a fist, jumped over Zoro, and threw a punch at Morgan's face, the force of the devastating red behind it. The flames charged, feasting on Captain Morgan's flesh, melting his bones and consuming his muscles. It devoured every inch of the marine's form, not stopping, even as he screamed, a bloodcurdling, agonizing scream. It ate, it consumed, it took, it stole, the red never stopped back then, and it wouldn't stop now. The fire only ceased when all that was left of Morgan was an Axe, a metal jaw, and a few scorched teeth.
The few marines which were still on the roof gaped at the sight of their captain's pitiful remains. "Wh-Who are you?" One of the officers pointed at Ace, who still had a few flames lingering on his arms. The child stared at the man for a moment, slightly shocked by his question. It reminded him of something he hadn't thought of for a long time…
"Why wouldn't you wanna be called by your name?" A small boy with a straw hat questioned, swinging his feet farther than an average human should be able to. He was sitting on the edge of a treehouse, looking at another boy, one who was obviously pissed."Because!" The boy yelled, smacking the straw hatted boy on the head.Tears formed in the younger's eyes, and he clutched the lump on his head. "That hurt! Meanie… I was just asking…""Well you shouldn't've asked then." The elder sat down next to his brother, looking at the scenery before them. It was a nice day, with lush greenery surrounding their home. It was noon, and the smell of fresh rain was still noticeable from the light showers in the morning. Dew clung to spruce saplings and ancient aspers alike, reflecting the light the sun graciously gave them.Luffy and Ace were both in their super secret base, waiting for Sabo to steal some of Dadan's clothes so they could make a pirate flag. Since it was a stealth mission, the brother opted to go alone, which made it very nerve-wracking for the two left behind. Even if Sabo was the sneakiest out of the three, that didn't mean there was no chance he would fail. The duo had faith in the blonde, but they still worried for his safety.The rubber boy looked up at the ten year-old, brown eyes big and watery. "Pleeeeeaaaaase?" Ace looked away, huffing, but he could feel his resolve slowly crumbling away. "Tell me tell me tell me tellmetellmetellmetellmetellmetellme!" Luffy attached himself to the raven's arm, and shook him violently with each word he spoke."Urgh, fine! Just stop being such a baby!" Ace complied, shoving Luffy off of him. The paramecia's face went red at the insult."I'm not a baby… " but his words were ignored as Ace gave him a serious look, telling the youngest to shut up.The oldest sighed, and rubbed his temples, looking around at the vegetation encircling them. "The reason I hate my name is because of who it belonged to." He moved his hands to pick at the planks of wood they took from Grey Terminal. "You wouldn't understand, but I don't want to be known as the 'Pirate King's' son, or a monster, or… or… " Ace made a frustrated sound, and ripped a chunk of the blank he was playing with apart. "I don't want to be stuck in my father's shadow."It took a moment for Luffy to answer, only deep breaths, the whistling of birds, and soothing winds chimed in the silence that ensued. "But why would you change your name for something as stupid as that? It's not like you stole your name or anything, and if you did, well the bastard deserved it!" The straw hatted boy looked up at the sky, an impossibly large grin on his face. "When I become pirate king, imma shout my name for all to hear! Shishishishishi."Even if those words seemed to carry no meaning, no weight, nothing at all, it made Ace stop and think for a long, long time. He only stopped when Sabo came running back with a mischievous grin, Dadan's blouse, and a black eye.
The looks of disgust on their faces. The laughter, the promises of death. The curses, the bullets, the nooses and poisons. Ace had heard every single way people wanted him to die. Execution, blood loss, starvation, drowning. All wanted him to suffer, all wanted him to die by their hands. It used to get to him, break him down, make him fall apart and unable to put himself back together. It made him feel impossibly broken, and he never let himself even try to be fixed. He still wondered if he should be alive at all, if he should just end it and destroy his bloodline, save the world from all the pain he is likely to cause.
But now… he didn't care. He would be damned if he let the world win now. Not after they took everything, hurt people who didn't deserve this torture, this suffering. They didn't even know he existed, and they already ripped away everything that made him think that maybe, just maybe, he wasn't the monster he was painted as. If Luffy wasn't there to yell out his name, then he would do it instead.
Government be damned, his father did not define him.
"Who am I?" Ace spoke in the deafening silence, everyone still gawking at the child who just killed their captain. Who just burst into flames right in front of their eyes. "I am Gol D. Ace, and I will make your lives a living hell."
Alright, I know that may have seemed a little OOC, but I promise you, it WILL make sense. Don't get your pitchforks and burn me at the stake just yet, I have a plan!
Please let me know what you think, constructive criticism is welcomed and encouraged! I'd also like to hear your assumptions about this chapter, and what is to come!
A HUGE thank you to all of those who left kudos!
I'll be posting only on Sundays, unless stated otherwise. It'll most likley be a one to two week wait for each chapter, depending on its size. Most chapters will be roughly be 10,000 words, if not longer. I have no beta reader, so if you see any mistakes, please tell me! It's really appreciated!
Last thing. The next chapter you'll be seeing Luffy again! This story will alternate between Ace's adventures, and Luffy's adventures every chapter, even if I leave one side of the story on a cliffhanger. Mwahahahaha! I'm evil, I know.
See you soon!
